Emerson And Thoreau: Importance Of Individualism

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Individualism is an important theme of the Transcendental movement. An individual needs to demonstrate original thoughts, develop his own moral values, and display independence in order to achieve inner growth and fulfillment in life. In Emerson and Thoreau’s philosophical writings, the authors agree that in the transition from childhood to adulthood, man loses his individuality which negatively affects his life, and that reclaiming individualism by avoiding societal conformity and living a person’s own experiences is critical to personal growth. Yet, both authors present contrasting thoughts on how this individualism may be achieved. Emerson and Thoreau agree that in the transition from childhood to adulthood, man restricts original thoughts and actions so that he may be accepted by others, which impedes his individual growth. In Emerson’s essay “Self Reliance,” he considers that “A boy is in the parlour what the pits is in his playhouse; independent, irresponsible ... He cumbers himself never about consequences, about interests: he gives an independent, genuine verdict.” Emerson emphasizes that a child does what he desires and freely speaks what’s on his mind without consideration of consequences. Emerson admires such genuine actions because they express uninhibited and uninfluenced original thought which is critical to a person’s development as a unique individual. In contrast, Emerson deems that “man is, as it were, clapped into jail by his consciousness; as soon as he has once acted with éclat, he is a committed person.” As man matures into adulthood, he begins to take into account others’ opinions, conforming to how he should think and act in society so that he may gain the approval of his peers, and through this, he loses his own inner voice and his uniqueness which defines him … metaphorically, he is "jailed.” Emerson believes that successful men are those,

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